Household appliance



Nov. 5, 1935. T. P, HUBERT HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCE original Filed oct. 15,193i z sheets-sheet 1 se l INVENTOR Theodor?N P Hubgr ATTORNE-YUS.

Nov. 5, 1935. T. P. HUBERT HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCE v2 Sheets-Sheet 2Original Filed Oct. l5, 1931 lNvEN-roR Theodore F. Huberr BY 2 ATTORNEYSPatented Nov. 5, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT GFFICE HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCE ofNew Jersey Application October 15, 1931, Serial No. 568,975 RenewedApril 9, 1935 7 Claims.

This invention relates to household appliances, and more particularly tocleaning apparatus including a rotary brush arranged to be driven by astream of water.

A known form of cleaning device includes a rotary brush provided withimpeller blades or vanes so that the brush may be driven or rotated by acontinuous stream of water Supplied thereto. This waterv is preferablydefiected from the impeller blades to the brush or surface beingcleaned, so that the surface is flushed as it is brushed.

Considered in one aspect, the primary object of the present invention isto improve such cleaning devices by making it possible to feed to thebrush a continuous supply of a detergent, preferably soapy water. Acorollary object of the invention is the provision of means to controlthe rate of supply of detergent to the surface being cleaned, and toentirely stop the flow of detergent, when desired. Another object of thepresent invention is to use the detergent in an economical and effectivemanner.

These objects are fulfilled, generally, by using soap in solid form asthe detergent, and placing the same in a compartment into which apreferably small portion of the Water supply is diverted and sprayedagainst the soap. Any simple form of valve may be used to control thediversion of water into the soap compartment. The resulting suds orsoapy water are fed from the soap compartment to the brush andconsequently to the surface being cleaned.

Considered in another aspect, a primary object of the present inventionis to improve the construction of cleaning apparatus of the typedescribed, in order to make it directly applicable in the household forrapidly and readily washing dishes, kitchen utensils, and the like. Withthis object in view, the rotary brush and impeller for driving the sameare mounted on a suitable frame or housing which in turn is providedwith means permitting the same to be readily applied to a faucet andattached thereto in a direct and rigid manner, so that the appliance isnot only supplied with water from the faucet, but is additionallysupported thereby. This makes it possible to wash dishes simply byholding the same against the revolving brush. A corollary object of theinvention is to make the same interchangeably applicable to any of thevarious kinds of faucets in current use, and with this object in view,the appliance is provided with an adaptor intended for permanentattachment to the faucet. The housing is readily attachable to ordetachable from lthe adaptor. A number of forms of adaptor areavailable, the internal dimensions of which differ to accommodatedifferent faucets, but the external dimensions of which are all uniformand designed to 5 mate accurately with the corresponding portion of thehousing applied thereto.

Most present-day sinks are provided with faucets of the mixer type, thatis, the hot and cold water faucets lead to a single outlet. However, l0sinks provided with separate hot and cold water faucets are still madeand still remain in use. Accordingly, still another object of thepresent invention is to make the same applicable to sinks having eithera mixer faucet or separate hot and l5 cold water faucets, so that ineither case water of desired temperature may be supplied to the brush.

It is frequently desirable to change the material and stiffness of thebristles of the brush according to the type of cleaning being done. Itis evident that to clean the burned surface of a pot, a differentcharacter of brush may be advantageously employed than to clean thesurface of delicate china. Furthermore, I have found it possible toclean or/and peel vegetables and the like by using a brush with stiffbristles such as steel wire. Accordingly, still another object of thepresent invention is to so design a turbine brush appliance that thebrush which is 30 driven by the impeller may readily be applied to orremoved from the impeller, so that a brush having bristles of desiredmaterial and stiffness may be selected and used.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and 35 such other objects as mayhereinafter appear, my invention resides in the turbine brush mechanismelements and their relation one to the other, as hereinafter are moreparticularly described in the specification and sought to be defined inthe claims. The specification is accompanied by drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a section taken in elevation through a preferred form ofappliance designed particularly for dish washing-'and the like;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section taken in the plane of the line 2-2 inFig. l;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken in the plane of the line 3A in Fig.1;

Fig. 4 is a front elevation of a similar unit appropriately modified tofit a. sink having two faucets; and

Figs. 5 and 6 illustrate modified forms of adaptor for different typesof faucet.

For purposes of illustration, the features of my 55 invention will bedescribed in connection with a preferred form of rotary dish washingappliance. It will be understood, however, that the invention involves anumber of improvements, many of which, such as the soap supplymechanism, the interchangeable brush mechanism etc., are useful in avariety of appliances other than the dish washing appliance specificallydescribed.

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to Figs. 1, 2, and 3thereof, the appliance comprises a housing I2, which is detachablyattachable to an adaptor I4 permanently afiixed to the outlet of afaucet I6, the attachment being direct and rigid, so that the housing issupported and held in position by the faucet. The housing is providedwith an annular or outside brush I8 which is stationary, and with acircular brush 20 which is rotatably mounted inside of the stationarybrush I8. Brush 28 is arranged to be driven by a turbine wheel orimpeller 22 which in turn is driven by water supplied from faucet I6.Housing I2 further includes a soap compartment 24 into which apreferably small portion of the water supply may be diverted throughpassage 26 under the control of a needle valve 28. The detergent formedby the diverted water squirted into the soap compartment, flowsdownwardly to the rotary brush 20.

Considering the apparatus in greater detail, the adaptor I4 preferablycomprises a rubber collar or inner member 30, the internal shape ofwhich is designed to fit the particular type of faucet in use. Thecollar 38 is surrounded near its upper periphery by a thin brasstightening band 32, and the collar 30 and band 32 are completely housedby an apertured cup-shaped aluminum collar holder 34. The latter issplit at one side, as at 3'I, and provided with outwardly projectinglugs 36 and 38. These lugs are most clearly shown in Fig. 3 which alsoshows how they are interconnected by a tightening screw 40 which passesfreely through lug 36 but is threaded in lug 38. The entire adaptorassembly including rubber collar 38, the band 32, and the collar holder34, is applied to the faucet I6 and permanently attached thereto bytightening the screw 40. 'I'his results not only in holding the adaptorrigidly on the faucet, but also in preventing leakage of water upwardlybetween the faucet and the adaptor.

The housing I2 is provided at its upper end with a cup-shaped receptacle42 dimensioned to just t over the collar holder 34. The upper rearportion of the receptacle 42 is cut away, as at 44, in order to clearthe rearwardly projecting lugs 36 and 38 of collar holder 34. The sidesof the receptacle 42 are provided with threaded bosses 46, best shown inFigs. 3 and 4, into which are threaded the knurled thumb screws 48. Thesides of the collar holder 34 are provided with recesses 50 forreceiving the ends of thumb screws 48. The bottom of receptacle 42carries a gasket 43. With this construction it will be understood tl` athousing I2 may readily be applied to faucet I6 simply by sliding thereceptacle 42 over the adaptor I4, and tightening thumb screws 48.Similarly, to detach the housing from the faucet, it is simply necessaryto slightly loosen thumb screws 48 and slide the housing downwardly oithe adaptor I4.

The main frame or housing I2 has integrally formed therein the soapcompartment 24. This is generally cylindrical and is provided with a lidor cover 52, hinged to the soap compartment at 54, and provided with acentral knob 56 and be bled or diverted into soap compartment 24 throughpassage 26. This passage preferably terminates in a small opening, as isindicated at 12, so that the water fed therethrough will be squirtedinto the soap compartment somewhat forcibly, even though a relativelysmall quantity of water is diverted. This insures the water becomingsudsy or soapy even though solid soap is employed, and the latter ispreferred because it is consumed relatively slowly and economically.

Regardless of the type of detergent used, the present invention iseconomical in its consumption thereof because the main bulk of the Watersupply needed to drive the impeller 22 need not ow through thedetergent, but instead is fed directly to the impeller. The soapy waterflows downwardly by gravity through discharge openings 'I4 at the bottomof the soap container 24, and from there flows over the impeller 22 andto the rotating brush 20 and the surface being cleaned.

The supply of detergent is accurately controllable by means of a simpleneedle valve 28 the conical end of which mates with a conical seatformed at the end of passage 26. The valve stem is threaded at 'I6 sothat it may be closed or opened any desired amount by rotation of thevalve stem, which for this purpose has secured thereto a control handleor lever 18. Leakage of water around the valve stem may be prevented bypacking confined and tightened by a packing cap 82. This in turn isscrewed onto a bushing 84 which itself may be threaded into a boss 86 onhousing I2. The illustrated construction simplies the machining of theparts of the valve mechanism, as well as the machining of the passage26. It will be understood that by simple manipulation of the handle 18,the supply of water to the soap compartment may be accurately regulatedto control the flow of detergent to the brush, and, if desired, may beentirely cut off, in which case the brush will receive only clear water.The arrangement then may be used for rinsing dishes and the like, or forcleaning dishes which require no detergent. In this condition, theappliance may also be used for cleaning vegetables and the like.

The bottom of housing I2 is formed into an inverted dished compartment88 within which the impeller 22 is housed. The impeller consists of atop plate 98, a depending annular skirt 92, and a plurality of vanes orblades 94 projecting downwardly from top plate 90 and outwardly from theskirt 92. These blades may be shaped and disposed in any desired manner,but I have found that the operating emciency of the device is notnoticeably or measurably impaired by making the blades in simple radialform, as is best shown in Fig. 2.v This arrangement is relatively simpleto pattern, cast, and finish. By disposing the discharge nozzle 12 inproper tangential direction, the water supply is directed against theblades and after impinging upon and driving the same, tends to flowradially outward from the impeller. 'I'his ow is intercepted by theoutside of the compartment 88 in housing |2, and the water isconsequently defiected downwardly against the surface being brushed. Toadditionally confine the water to the surface being brushed, the outeror stationary brush 8 is preferably provided, this brush consisting ofclosely packed bristles bound in twisted wires which are pried over thebottom of the housing and held in an annular recess |02 extending aroundthe same.

The impeller 22 is preferably provided with a bushing |04 force-fittedtherein. The bushing is freely received by a main bearing screw |06 theupper end |08 of which is reduced in diameter and threaded into thebottom of the soap compartment 24. The thread is preferably a lefthandthread, so that rotation of impeller 22 tends to tighten rather thanloosen screw |06. Lubrication between bearing screw |06 and bushing |04may be obtained simply by the water with which the device is floodedwhen in use. Effective lubrication may also be obtained by reason of thesoapy water flowing through the apparatus. This lubrication may beimproved by boring bearing screw |06 with axial and transverselubricating passages ||0. Such passages permit soapy water to flowdirectly from compartment 24 to the bearing. If desired, lubrication bymeans of a heavy oil or grease may be provided by packing waste ||2 withthe lubricant, and confining the same within a protective cap ||4applied over the end of screw |06 and shielding the lubricant from thedetergent.

Brush comprises a flat disc-like brush plate |20 in which bunches |22 ofbristles are set. The brush plate |20 is provided with an upwardlyprojecting central boss |24 the internal diameter of which isdimensioned to fit over the outside of the downwardly projecting hub |26of irnpeller 22. The hub |26 is provided with an outwardly projectingkey |28, and is further provided with a cup-shaped or hemisphericalindentation |30. The boss |24 is provided with a keyway mating with key|28, whereby the rotation of impeller 22 is imparted to the brush plate|20. The boss |24 is further provided with a lug or protuberance |32within which there is carried a reciprocable holding pin |34 resilientlyurged into recess by a compression spring |36 which in turn is retainedin place by a screw |40. With this construction, it will be evident thatbrush 20 is readily detachable from impeller 22 simply by pulling itdownward from the impeller, and that another brush having bristles ofany desired material and stiffness may be substituted simply by pushingthe same upwardly over the hub |26 of the impeller. The fit of the brushon the impeller may and preferably is made relatively free, for in usethe brush is anyway pushed upwardly by the surface being cleaned.Positive rotation of the brush, however, is obtained at all times byreason of key |28 and the mating keyway.

A kitchen sink is most frequently provided with a mixer faucet. in whichcase the single outlet of the n.lxer faucet is provided with an adaptorI4, and the apparatus is simply slipped over and attached to the saidoutlet. However, in some cases a sink may be provided with separate hotand cold water faucets. To make possible the use of water of any desiredtemperature when the brush is applied to such a sink, the housing I2 isprovided at one side with a cylindrical hose coupling boss |42,centrally bored at |44, as is best shown in Figs. 1 and 3. The outer endof bore |44 is preferably threaded to receive a. screw |46 and washer|48 so as to blank off the passage in the manner indicated in Fig. 3when the device is used on a mixer faucet.

However, when the brush is to be used with separate faucets, screw |46is removed and one end of a preferably flexible rubber hose |50 isforced thereover, as is best shown in Fig. 4. Referring to that figure,it will be seen that the receptacle 42 of housing I2 is applied to anadaptor permanently attached to the faucet I6, just as was described inconnection with Fig. 1. The faucet I6 is preferably the hot waterfaucet, and this being ordinarily on the left side, the boss |42 isprovided at the right side of the housing I2. Hose |50 therefore extendsto the right and leads to the cold water faucet I6. which is ofadvantage because the hose is not injuriously affected by cold water.Faucet I6', like faucet I6, has permanently attached thereto an adaptorI4'. A special fitting |52 is provided the upper portion of whichincludes a receptacle |54 exactly like the receptacle 42 on housing I2.This receptacle is similarly provided with thumb screws 48' mating withrecesses 50 on the adaptor I4. The discharge end of fitting |52 includesa tubular nozzle |56 the diameter of which equals that of the boss |42on housing I2. The end of hose |50 is forced over tubular portion |56.The distance between hot and cold water faucets is fairly wellstandardized, and small variations may be taken care of by the length ofthe tubular nozzle |56. Large variations may be taken care of by cuttingdifferent lengths of hose |50. The ends of the hose are preferablypermanently secured to boss |42 and fitting |52 by hose clamps |58 thesplit ends of which may be drawn together by screws |60 in conventionalfashion.

From the foregoing description, it will be understood that where thesink is provided with separate hot and cold water faucets, both of theseare provided with adaptors, and the turbine brush is slightly modifiedby the addition of hose |50 and fitting |52. To apply the brush to thefaucets, the receptacles 42 and |54 are fitted over adaptors I4 and I4',and thumb screws 48 and 48' are tightened. If the owner moves to adifferent apartment, the sink of which has a mixer faucet, he has merelyto remove hose |50, and blank off the boss |52 by means of screw |46.

Figs. 5 and 6 illustrate typical forms of adaptor arranged to tdifferent types of faucet. In each case the adaptor comprises a rubbercollar 30 or 30", surrounded by a brass tightening band 32 and a collarholder 34, all of which may be tightened by a screw 40. from acomparison of Figs. 1, 5, and 6, that in every case the adaptors areentirely similar except for a slight change in the internal shape ordimension of the rubber collar 30, 30', or 30". The collar holder 34being always the same, the adaptor is in every case readily received bythe receptacle 42 of the brush.

A dish washing appliance of the type described is characterized bynumerous advantages, among which may be listed the fact that the dishesare washed by a perfectly sanitary method including constant scrubbingaccompanied by constant rinsing with hot soapy water. The soapy wateraffords perfect lubrication for the moving bristles, and softens anddilutes the removable material on the dishes or utensils, whether suchmaterial be greasy or not. The utensil is not only thoroughly cleaned,but is actually polished. The

It will be evidentv brush is self-cleansing because of the contnuous owof hot soapy water therethrough, but additional cleaning, if desired, isfacilitated by the ready demountability of the rotary brush, as well asof the entire unit which is light, compact, and easy to handle. Inoperation, the brush does not throw water, and causes less exposure tothe hands of the user to water and detergent, thereby avoiding theeffects of excessive immersion. The amount of soap can be regulated fromheavy suds down to none at all leaving only clear water flowing from thebrush. In the latter condition, the device is valuable for the washingof vegetables and even for the peeling of vegetables having a thin skin.

'Ihe mode of constructing and using, and the many advantages of myinvention will, it is thought, be apparent from the foregoing detailed'description thereof. The rotary brush, regardless of whether mounted ina portable or xed unit, and regardless of the use to which it is put,may be provided with means for supplying a detergent to the brush at anaccurately controllable rate. 'Ihe supply of detergent may be entirelystopped, if desired. The detergent is consumed slowly and economically,and is used eiliciently because it is liquefied or/and transformed intosuds before it is applied to the brush and the surface being cleaned.The main bulk of the Water supply which is needed for proper power driveof the turbine impeller, need not pass through the detergent withconsequent waste. The amount of this water supply may also be regulatedat the faucet. The rotatable brush is readily applied to and removedfrom the mold. and a series of brushes the bristles of whch differ inmaterial and stiffness may be selectively employed. The device, if usedfor dish washing, is readily attachable to and detachable from a faucet,and when attached to the faucet is rigidly supported thereby, so thatthe operator need handle only the dishes being washed. Water of desiredtemperature may be obtained, regardless of whether the sink is providedwith a mixer faucet or separate hot and cold water faucets.

It will be apparent that while I have shown and described my inventionin preferred form, many changes and modifications may be made in thestructure disclosed, without departing from the spirit of the invention,defined in the following claims.

I claim:

l. Dish washing apparatus comprising a housing having an open bottom,means localized at the housing for readily detachably attaching thehousing to a faucet in a direct and rigid manner, whereby the housing issupported by the faucet and is supplied with water therefrom, animpeller in said housing near the open bottom thereof, a rotary discbrush attached directly to the lower side of said impeller and rotatedthereby, the bristles of said brush projecting downwardly out of theopen bottom of the housing, means for guiding water from the faucetdirectly to the impeller to rotate the same and thence to the brush, asoap compartment in said housing, means to divert a portion of the watersupply into the soap compartment and thence to the brush, and means tocontrol the diversion of water into the soap compartment.

2. Dish washing apparatus comprising a housing, means for readilydetachably attaching the housing to a faucet in a. direct and rigidmanner, whereby the housing is supported by the faucet and is suppliedwith water therefrom, an annular stationary brush located at the bottomof the housing, a circular rotary brush located at the bottom of thehousing within the stationary brush, an impeller in said housing forrotating the rotary brush, means for guiding water from the faucet tothe impeller to rotate the same and 5 thence to the brush, a soapcompartment in said housing, means to divert a portion of the Watersupply into the soap compartment and thence to the brush, and means toregulate and entirely stop the diversion of water into the soapcompartment.

3. A household appliance for use with a sink having separate hot andcold water faucets, said apparatus comprising a housing, means forreadily detachably attaching the housing to both the hot and cold waterfaucets, so that the housing is supplied with mixed water from bothfaucets, the attachment to at least one of said faucets being localizedat the housing and being in a direct and rigid manner so that thehousing is supported by said faucet, an annular stationary brush locatedat the bottom of the housing, a circular rotary brush located at thebottom of the housing within the stationary brush, an impeller in saidhousing for rotating the rotary brush, and means for guiding water fromthe faucets to the impeller to rotate the same and thence to the brush.

4. Dish washing apparatus for use with 4a sink having separate hot andcold water faucets, said apparatus comprising a housing, means forreadily detachably attaching the housing to both the hot and cold waterfaucets, so that the housing is supplied with mixed water from .bothfaucets, the attachment to at least one of said faucets being in adirect and rigid manner so that the housing is supported by saidfaucets, an annular stationary brush located at the bottom of thehousing, a circular rotary brush located at the bottom of the housingwithin the stationary brush, an impeller in said housing for rotatingthe rotary brush, means' for guiding water from the faucets to theimpeller to rotate the same and thence to the brush, a soap compartmentin said housing, means to divert a portion of the water supply into thesoap compartment and thence to the brush, and means to control thediversion of Water into the soap compartment.

5. A household appliance comprising an openbottomed circular housing,means localized at the housing for readily detachably attaching thehousing to a faucet in a direct and rigid manner, whereby the housing issupported by the faucet and is supplied with Water therefrom, a waterdriven impeller mounted in a horizontal plane in said housing, a rotarydisc brush detachably mounted directly on said impeller, and means forguiding water from the faucet to the impeller, said impeller comprisinga hub portion surrounded by blades closed by a top wall but open at thebottom thereof, and said brush comprising a hub portion received by thehub portion of the impeller, and a disc portion projecting outwardlytherefrom and acting as a bottom wall for the blades of the impeller,whereby water discharged into the impeller may ow downwardly to thebrush.

6. Dish washing apparatus comprising a main body including an upwardlyhollowed circular housing at the bottom thereof, a cylindrical soapcompartment above said housing, and a main water flow passage extendingupwardly from the rear edge of the housing alongside of the rear wall ofthe soap compartment and terminating at the soap compartment with meansfor readily detachably securing the apparatus to a faucet in a directand rigid manner, whereby the housing is supported by the faucet and issupplied with water therefrom, an annular stationary brush locatedaround the housing, an impeller in said housing driven by water suppliedthereto through the aforesaid main water passage, a circular ro tarybrush mounted directly on the impeller Within the annular stationarybrush, the bottom of said soap compartment communicating with the brush,and the 'impeller discharging water downwardly to the brush.

7. Dish washing apparatus comprising a main body including an upwardlyhollowed circular housing at the bottom thereof, a cylindrical soapcompartment above said housing, and a main water flow passage extendingupwardly from the rear edge of the housing alongside of the rear wall ofthe soap compartment and terminating at the soap compartment with meansfor readily detachably securing the body to a faucet in a direct andrigid manner, whereby the body is supported by the faucet and issupplied with water therefrom, an annular stationary brush locatedaround the housing, an impeller in said houfing driven by water suppliedthereto through the aforesaid main water passage, a circular rotarybrush mounted directly on the impeller within the annular stationarybrush, a. valve-controlled bleeder passage for diverting a small portionof the water from the main water passage into the soap compartment, thebottom of said' soap compartment being perforated for communication 15THEODORE P. HUBERT.

